I'm in need of another truck to drive since my old dodge is starting to become reliable (01 with 201k miles) so I'm leaning towards a lightning. I've been doing a lot of research on here lately to see how reliable they are, how the mileage was, any common problems they have, etc. So far here's what I've found:
99-02's have 3-4 threads per head and are prone to blowing spark plugs out. You can either have them helicoiled (can't remember the name of the kit I saw right now) or buy new heads to solve the problem completely. Basic maintenance and checking them and proper torquing seems to help keep them in the head.
Average mpg in town seems to be 11-13 and highway seems to be 15-17. Sound about right?
The clunk in the front end is from a slotted hole on the lower a-arm of the driver's side that is fixed with a clunk washer and a little time.
Intercooler needs to be cleaned as soon as I purchase the truck and a catch can installed to prevent future oil from coating it up.
Is that it? These trucks seem to have almost 0 issues that aren't self induced which is good cause it's going to see about 700 miles a week for the next few months. I finally drove my first one last week and it got me hooked. That blower whine was intoxicating.
If yall have anything else to add please let me know. I'm going to keep searching and try to answer as many of my own questions as I can first but I just wanted to be sure I've got all of the bases covered first before I started digging deeper.
One thing I have noticed is that there aren't a lot of lightnings for sale down here in Texas that I have been able to find. Do yall know of a better place to go search for one? I've hit up craigslist and google and lightning forums but am having trouble finding ones in the state.
Thanks for your help.
99-02's have 3-4 threads per head and are prone to blowing spark plugs out. You can either have them helicoiled (can't remember the name of the kit I saw right now) or buy new heads to solve the problem completely. Basic maintenance and checking them and proper torquing seems to help keep them in the head.
Average mpg in town seems to be 11-13 and highway seems to be 15-17. Sound about right?
The clunk in the front end is from a slotted hole on the lower a-arm of the driver's side that is fixed with a clunk washer and a little time.
Intercooler needs to be cleaned as soon as I purchase the truck and a catch can installed to prevent future oil from coating it up.
Is that it? These trucks seem to have almost 0 issues that aren't self induced which is good cause it's going to see about 700 miles a week for the next few months. I finally drove my first one last week and it got me hooked. That blower whine was intoxicating.
If yall have anything else to add please let me know. I'm going to keep searching and try to answer as many of my own questions as I can first but I just wanted to be sure I've got all of the bases covered first before I started digging deeper.
One thing I have noticed is that there aren't a lot of lightnings for sale down here in Texas that I have been able to find. Do yall know of a better place to go search for one? I've hit up craigslist and google and lightning forums but am having trouble finding ones in the state.
Thanks for your help.
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